Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsameli’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsameli’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; red and light red-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ZALSAMELI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zalsameli’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Alstroemeria plants with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive flower coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in June, 2004, of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 20065-13, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 35649-18, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in July, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands since September, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsameli’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zalsameli’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Red and light red-colored flowers.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as flowers of plants of the male parent selection have orange-colored flowers with fewer stripes.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Staqueen’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,335. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of ‘Staqueen’ in flower color as plants of ‘Staqueen’ had light and dark orange bi-colored flowers with fewer stripes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Zalsameli’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the late summer in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C. and soil temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were one year old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1966 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zalsameli’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 20065-13, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 35649-18, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro rhizogenesis.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 60 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; color, close to             155D.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.             Color: Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy             appearance; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 120.5 cm to 140.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm. -   Flowering stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Length.—About 106 cm to 123 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm to 9 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 9 cm to 10 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 147C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Appearance.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile.         -   Length.—About 13.1 cm to 17.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.5 cm to 3.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire; slightly undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 146A; venation, close to 141D. Developing and fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 137D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly; perianth             segments separate; freely flowering habit, about 12 to 30             flowers developing per flowering stem.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering about 80             to 90 days after planting.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks; flowers not             persistent.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 12 to 16 days.         -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 5 cm to 5.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 cm to 1.7 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid.             Color: Close to 47A.         -   Umbel height.—About 14.5 cm to 17.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 16 cm to 18 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm by 6.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 8 cm to 8.5 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Outer             perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 6 cm to 6.6 cm.             Width: About 3 cm to 3.3 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Embedded             pointed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 47C;             central spot, close to 47A; towards the base, close to 36D.             Color, when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 47C; central spot, close to 47A. Outer perianth, median             segment: Length: About 6.6 cm to 7.2 cm. Width: About 3 cm             to 3.4 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Embedded pointed. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 47C; central spot,             close to 47A; towards the base, close to 36D. Color, when             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 47C;             central spot, close to 47A. Inner perianth, lateral             segments: Length: About 6.9 cm to 7.9 cm. Width: About 1.7             cm to 2 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Wishbone-shaped.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, when             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 47C; upper             spot, close to 47A; center, close to 12A; towards the base,             close to 36D; stripes, close to 183A. Color, when opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 47C; upper spot,             close to 47A; center, close to 12A; towards the base, close             to 36B. Inner perianth, median segment: Length: About 5.9 cm             to 6.7 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm to 2.2 cm. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Apex: Wishbone-shaped. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 47C; central spot, close to             47A; towards the base, close to 36D; stripes, close to 183A.             Color, when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 47C; central spot, close to 47A; towards the base, close             to 36D; stripes, close to 183A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Diameter: About 2             mm to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 15° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 147C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 9 mm to             10 mm. Anther color: Close to 199B. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 152B. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             One. Style length: About 4.1 cm to 4.9 cm. Style color:             Close to 45A. Stigma color: Close to 45A. Ovary color: Close             to 146B.         -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsameli’ as illustrated and described. 